Room 238, Tuesday after workshops

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Aeryn's seen pictures of sharks before. Looking at the tank, and all the things in it, up to and including said shark is a little bit confusing.

"I think they lied to you at the store," Aeryn says.

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"You're hugging back!"

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"Maybe I'm just not stopping you."

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"That's because you loooooooooooove me," he says and yes, he does say it like that.

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She turns her head to look at him, raising an eyebrow at the way it's said.

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"What?" He grins at her.

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"You what me?"

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"I loooooooooooooooooooove you," he repeats.

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She smiles a little, and says, "Say it right."

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"No." He winks at her. "I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove you."

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"I want to hear it right," she says quietly.

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"Do you?" Of course he's going to say it but he likes this. "Why?"

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"I want you to say it like you mean it. I like to hear it."

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His smile softens and he says, "I love you."

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"I love you, too," she says, smiling again. "Was that so difficult?"

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"No. But the other way I said it, it still means I love you."

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"This way sounds like you do." It makes total sense to her, actually.

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He just shakes his head and laughs. "I do love you, Aeryn."

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"I know," she says, turning her head just a little more to kiss him. "I've never doubted that."

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"Ever?" He doesn't know why he's asking. "Not even when you first came back?"

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She could say no, but instead she answers honestly. "Maybe that first night," she admits. "That didn't last."

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Even just that makes him sad. "I'm sorry."

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She squeezes his hand. "No," she says. "Don't be. It was different then, it was six months ago... It doesn't matter now."

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"It was doubt," he says quietly but doesn't move away. "I'm sorry I put it there. I never stopped loving you."

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Aeryn turns herself around, putting her hand up to his face. "I know. I shouldn't have doubted it. It doesn't matter, though. What matters is now."

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If there's one thing John's good at it, it's self pity. And he's trying real hard not to do too much of that right now.

"I wasn't good when you first came back. I did things wrong."